Electrical apparatus.



APPLIOATIOI FILD AI. 28, 1904.

l0. IODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 30, 1904;.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS".

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,581, dated August .50J 1904.

i A Application filed January 28, 1994. Serial No. 190,965. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it nea/y con/cern:

Be it known that we, FRED BURKs and CHARLES RoHLFs, citizens of the United States,

and residents of Buffalo, in the county of Erie nipulation of the container and electrical connections for transmitting the current generated by the machine to the person using the apparatus.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of attractive and pleasing character and of simple, durable, and inexpensive construction, suitable both for exercising and therapeutical purposes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a sectional elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the bell containing the generatingmachine in line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, partly in'plan, on an enlarged scale, in line 3 `3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation in line/1 4, Fig. 3.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents a portable device, preferably in the form of ahollow dumb-bell, having enlarged balls or heads a a', connected by a central tubular handle or shank. The bell constitutes a container for the electric-currentgenerating machine and a motor .for driving the same and also an electrode for conveying the current to the hand of the person using the apparatus, and for this reason the bell is preferably made of metal to give an extended contact-surface for the hand; but, as will be manifest, the bell could be made of wood or other insulating materialand -provided with a metal handle or contact-plate for the hand at any suitable point.

- An electric-cuwent-generating machine is mounted in the head c of the dumb-bell, which is provided in the construction shown in the drawings with blocks of wood or other insulating material` for supporting the generating-machine and insulating the same from the metal portions of the dumb-bell. A magneto-electric machine is shown, consisting of a permanent horseshoe-magnet C. arranged and held between the wooden insulating-blocks I) and an armature D, which is arranged, as usual, between the opposite poles of the magnet and supported on an armatu re-shaft d, which is provided at one end with a journal entering a bearing-hole in the bent end of the magnet and at the other end with a journal entering a hole in a bearing-plate 0l', which spans the ends of the magnet,^to which it is secured by screws or in any other suitable manner. The armature Ais provided with the usual winding,con`nected at one end to the armature and at the other end to the usual insulated collector-ring c.

The armature of the magneto-electric machine is 4rotated to generate the current by a motor, which in the construction illustrated consists of a Weight F, confined loosely in and adapted to reciprocate longitudinally in the shank of the dumb-bell. rlhe Weight is reciprocated from end toend of the shank by alternately inverting' and righting the dumbbell, and this movement of the Weight is transmitted to the armature-Shaft to rotate the armature by suitable connectionsrsuch asia belt or cord G, attached at its tw ends to the opposite ends of the movable weight and passing into the head a. containing the generating-machine, around a pulley k on the armature-shaft, and around a tensioning pulley or sheave H, mounted in the other head, a', of the dumb-bell. Theintermediate portion of the belt passes freely through a longitudinal hole 'k' in the Weight. The belt is moved back and forth bythe reciprocating movements of the weight and turns the armature-shaft and armature alternately in opposite directions, thus producing' a current. A

The tensioning pulley or sheave is preferably journaled in an adjustable yoke or frame 2'-, which is connected by an adjusting-screw with a stationary frame secured in the tion. Furthermore, the invention is not lim' head a' of the dumb-bell. frame is preferably of yU shape and is l'ixcd by screws vf in .the end of thc, shank which extends into the head no'. the legs of the U-frame are bent downwardly beside the sheave-yoke to hold the latter from turning. The head oi' the dumb-bell is provided opposite the end of the adjustinghscreiv with a hole lthrough which a screw-driver can be inserted and engaged with the adjusting-screwjor turning the same. 'Ihis construction atfords a convenient means for adjusting thel tensioning pulley o1' sheave to properly tighten or slacken-the driving belt or cord.

* Z represent yielding buifers or springs which are secured in the opposite ends of the shank of the dumb-bell to receive the impact ofthe weight and lessen the effect of the concussion and shock onthe hand.

While a belt or cord is described for transmitting the motion of the weight to the armature-shaft, other transmitting connections could'be employed. The belt-or cord, however, is an inexpensive and desirable connecited to theK use of the Weight-motor described for driving the generating-machine, but comprehends .the use of 'other motors which are operatedor set in operation by the manipulation of the container.:

- The dumb-bell containing the generatingmachine, which will hereinafter be termed the containen constitutes an l'electrode and is connected to one .terminal of the machine in any convenient manner-for instance, by a contact plate or brush M, secured to one of the supporting-blocks b for the magnet, .with one end bearing against the collector-ring on the armature-shaft and the other end contacting with the metallic head of the container.

I P represents a second electrode,connected to an insulated conducting-Wire p, which enters the head a of the container and is'connected i-n -any suitable manner to the other terminal of the generating-machine. The electrode P, which will hereinafter be-called the electrode to distinguish it from the container, is preferably of the same shape, size, and weight as the container to create the impression of being a duplicate container. provided with a generating-machine, and for this purpose av sliding weight Q, similar to the Weight for operating the generating-machine, is loosely confined to reciprocate in the shank of the electrode, which is provided with yielding buffers or springs at the opposite ends of the shank to relieve the jars incident to the operation of the Weight. The electrode may be in the form of ahollow metal shell like the container or may be made of insulating material provided With a metal contact plate or portion.

When the electrode is held in one hand and the container in the other hand and both devices The stationary l manil'mlatcd, the reciprocating weights inthe two devices produce like impacts or jars on the container and electrode, thus creating the im- The upper ends of f pression that each contains a generating-ma chine.

In using the apparatus the user holds the container and electrode in his two hands and manipulates the same in such manner as to reciprocate the weights, thus driving the g'enerating-machine as before explained, and a current is generated which traverses the circuit completed through the container and elec` trode` the conductor connecting the same and the arms and body of the person using the apparatus.

Instead of the hand-electrode P the conducting-wire could be connected with an electrode of any sort adapted to be placed in contact with any desired portion of Athe persons body.

The magneto-electric machine is preferably provided with a rheotome or circuit-inter- 4rupter. The interrupter shown is of known construction, consisting of a star-Wheel fr, Which is secured to the armature-shaft of the generator and in the rotation of the shaft intermittently contacts With a spring-plate r. which is connected to or formed integrally with the contact-plate M, connecting with the collector-ringof the generator. The rheotome operates in a well-known manner to interrupt and intermittently short-circuit the current through the machine for raising the electro- -moti've force of the current in the external circuit and intensifying its effect on the person` thereby enabling the use of a small machine generating a relatively. feeble current and 'also better adapting the apparatus for therapeutical purposes. 'A dynamo-electric machine could be substituted for the magneto electric machine shown; but the latter is preferred, because a small machine with a permanent magnet of good quality will produce a stronger current than a dynamo-electric machine of substantially the same dimensions and is also cheaper than a dynamo-electric machine.

We claim as our invention- 1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combiation of a container, an electric-current-generating machine in said container, and means in said container and operated by the manipulation of the latter to drive said generating-machine, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination ot' a containergan electric-current-generating machine in said container, a motor in said container and operated by the manipulation of the container, and con- TOO IIO

nections between the motor and generatingmachine for operating the latter, su bstantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a container, an electric-cuwent-generating machine in said container, and a device in said container operated by gravity when said container is inverted to drive said generating-machine, substantially as Vset forth.

4. The combination of a device to be held in the hand and manipulated, an electric-currentgenerating machine supported by said device, means supported by said device and operated by the manipulation of the latter for driving said generating-machine, and electric connections for transmitting the electric current to a person, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a device constituting an electrode to be held in the hand and manipulated, an electric generating-machine supported by said device, a motor supported by said device and operated by the manipulation of the same, connections between said motor .and said generating-machine for operating thelatter, an electrode, and electrical connections for the .current between said device and electrode, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a container inthe form of a dumb-bell, an electric-current-generating machine arranged in one head of the container, a reciprocating motor arranged in the shank ofl said container, connections between said motor and .generating-machine for operating the latter, and conducting means for the current produced by said generatingmachine, substantially as set forth.

' 7. The combination of a hollow container having a head, and a shank, anelectric-current-generating machine arranged in the head of said container, a reciprocating Weight arranged to slide in the shank of said container and which is reciprocated bythe manipulation of the container, and connections between said weight and the armature of said generating-machine for .operating the latter, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of aeontainerhavinga hollow head and a tubular shank, an electriccurrent-generating machine mounted in said head, a Weight arranged to slide in said tub ul lar shank and adapted to be rcciprocated by the manipulation of said container, a pulley on the armature-shaft of said generating-machine, a pulley` mounted in said container', and a belt attached to said weightand passing around said pulleys to drive the armature, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a container havinga hollow head and a tubular shank, an electriccurrent-generating machine mounted in said head, a Weightarranged to slide in said tubular shank and adapted to be reciprocated by the manipulation of said container, a pulley on the armature-shaft ofsaid generating-machine, a tensioning-pulley movably mounted in said container, a belt attached to said weight and passing aroundnsaid pulleys forv driving the armature, and means for adjusting said tensioning-pulley, substantially as set forth.

l0. The combination with a container, an electric-current-generating machine, and a reciprocating motor for operating the same inclosed in said container, of an electrode in electrical connection with said generating-inachine, said electrode containing a reciprocating Weight, substantially as set forth.

l1. The combination with acontainer in the form of adumb-bell, an electric-eurrent-generating machine-inclosed in said dumbbell, a weight arranged in the shank of said dumbbell, and connections from said Weight to said i generating-machine for operating the latter, of an electrode in the form of a dumb-bell electrically connected with said generatingmachine and provided with a Weight adapted to slide in the shank thereof, substantially as set forth.

Witness our hands this 25th day of January, 1904.

FRED BURKS. CHARLES ROHLFS. M

Witnesses CHAS. W. PARKER, C. B. HoRNBncii. 

